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About this project

Thanks for checking out the OF BY FOR Kickstarter page. We're raising $50,000 to distribute our feature length documentary. We’ve spent the last year and a half exploring money in politics, divisiveness, broken promises and the lack of choice in our electoral system. Whether you've given up on politics or you're a political junkie, OF BY FOR will surprise you with it's honest, incisive exposition of our broken system. It’s not about right versus left. It’s not for or against any one politician or party. It seeks to strike a different chord...not one of division, but of commonality and respect.

The film is complete – we just need your help getting it out. Please check out our video, reward tiers and read more about our project.

Humble thanks,

Chris, Chad, Andy, Sergei and the entire OF BY FOR Production Team

This film is about how we have lost our way. It's about human nature. It's about how well meaning people go to Washington and are rapidly caught in the powerful tide of special interest money and power, and why they must increasingly resort to division as a strategy to maintain power. And it's about the way that you and I have increasingly accepted and furthered this crippling division.

A journey across America’s Route 66 finds a country united in disappointment with the status quo in Washington.

Citizens
from all walks of life discuss money in politics, divisive campaign
tactics, broken promises and the helpless feeling that as the election
nears they must choose between the lesser of two evils.

Of By For features in-depth
analysis and candid conversations with some of the country’s most
notable politicians, campaign consultants and psychologists. Uncovering
the powerful interests that corrode our political system and divide the
people, Of By For finds that hope for real change still exists – we've
just been looking in all the wrong places.

Here’s why we need your help. First, this isn’t the kind of film that the mainstream media is going to get behind. It’s not divisive or inflammatory, and the film harshly criticizes much of the media for their roll in the degradation of our society and discourse. But even more than that, we can't imagine a better way to launch a film devoted to the idea of a government Of, By, and For the people than through Kickstarter.

The bulk of the funding amount will go toward Blu-ray and DVD production. Through the reward tiers, there are also kits that enable you to host your own OF BY FOR screening, to fund a public screening in your town, or even to sponsor a screening event with the filmmakers. We're literally putting the film in your hands, and we would love nothing more than to meet with you, watch the movie and discuss where we go as a nation from here.

Please check out the rewards and drop us a line if you don't see something that's right for you.

We will be updating this section with pictures as the Kickstarter pushes on, so keep checking back in.

A look at the "Host a screening" packages (the quantities will reflect the corresponding tier, of course) :

The New York premiere posters were all over the streets of Brooklyn.

We have 30 sets left of the three 18x24 poster series with quotes by Dan Rather, Jack Abramoff, and Dennis Kucinich from the movie, so don't worry – we'll be sending you nice unused ones.

Limited Edition, Numbered Letterpress Hero Cards

With all the divisiveness that permeates our country today, we offer these words for remembrance and reflection. In times harder than ours, these men choose to speak of commonality, reconciliation and peace.

"Four score and
seven years ago our fathers
brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us – that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that
we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain – that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom – and that government
of the people,
by the people,
for the people,
shall not
perish from
the earth." – Lincoln

"I have, therefore, chosen this time and place to discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth too rarely perceived. And that is the most important topic on earth: peace. What kind of peace do I mean and what kind
of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world
by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or
the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, and the kind that enables men and nations to grow, and to hope, and build a better life for their children – not merely peace for Americans
but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace in all time. I speak of peace because of the new face of war. Total war makes no sense in an age where great powers can maintain large and relatively invulnerable nuclear forces and refuse to surrender without resort to those forces. It makes no sense in an age where a single nuclear weapon contains almost ten times the explosive force delivered by all the allied air forces in the Second World War. It makes no sense in an age when the deadly poisons produced by a nuclear exchange would be carried by wind and water and soil and seed to the far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn. Today the expenditure of billions of dollars every year on weapons acquired for the purpose of making sure we never need them is essential to the keeping of peace. But surely the acquisition of such idle stockpiles – which can only destroy and never create – is not the only, much less the most efficient, means of assuring peace. I speak of peace, therefore, as the necessary, rational end of rational men.
I realize the pursuit of peace is not as dramatic as the pursuit of war, and frequently the words of the pursuers fall on deaf ears. But we have no more urgent task." – Kennedy

"Let us move
now from the practical
how to the theoretical why: Why
should we love our enemies? The first reason is fairly obvious. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. So when Jesus says “love your enemies,” he is setting forth a profound and ultimately inescapable admonition. Have we not come to such an impasse in the modern world that we must love our enemies-or else? The chain reaction of evil-hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars-must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of annihilation. Another reason why we must love our enemies is that hate scars the soul and distorts the personality. Mindful that hate is an evil and dangerous force, we too often think of what it does to the person hated. This is understandable, for hate bring irreparable damage to its victims. We have seen its ugly consequences in the ignominious deaths brought to six million Jews by a hate-obsessed madman named Hitler, in the unspeakable violence inflicted upon Negroes by blood-thirsty mobs, in the dark horrors of war, and in the terrible indignities and injustices perpetrated against millions of God’s children by unconscionable oppressors.But there is another side which we must never overlook. Hate is just as injurious to the person
who hates. Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes
the personality and eats away its vital unity.
Hate destroys a man’s sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with
the true." - King

And for those of you that like the idea of the Hero Cards but are maybe a bit more cynical or at least find contemplation eased by the soothing effects of a beer or two, we offer the Hero Pints. Available as single or a whole set.

Please check out the rewards and drop us a line if you don't see something that's right for you.

We will be updating this section with pictures as the Kickstarter pushes on, so keep checking back in.

A look at the "Host a screening" packages (the quantities will reflect the corresponding tier, of course) :

Risks and challenges

The production of OF BY FOR is complete. The film has screened at film festivals and limited theatrical engagements around the country, receiving numerous awards and rave reviews. The only major challenge this film faces is the inherent nature of the film - it challenges the status quo both in Washington and in the mass media. With that said, if this campaign is successful, there are no obstacles to distributing the film.

FAQ

Rewards

Pledge $5 or more

Your name posted on ofbyforfilm.com with a sincere thank you from Chris plus a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

You selected

Pledge $10 or more

12 backers

A specially designed Of By For Kickstarter postcard plus all of the above.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $15 or more

209 backers

We'll give you a digital download of the film plus a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $20 or more

121 backers

Your choice of a Lincoln, Kennedy, or King HERO Pint and a digital version of Of By For plus the postcard and a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Only ships to: United States

You selected

Pledge $25 or more

157 backers

We'll send you a DVD version of the film plus a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $35 or more

40 backers

We'll send you a Blu-ray version of the film plus a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $50 or more

85 backers

A set of all three HERO Pints and your choice of a DVD, Blu-ray, or digital version of the film plus the postcard and a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Only ships to: United States

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

29 backers
Limited (1 left of 30)

A DVD or Blu-ray version of the film plus a set of three (3) 24x36" posters from the New York "Of By For" premiere, the postcard and a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Only ships to: United States

You selected

Pledge $75 or more

31 backers
Limited (69 left of 100)

A set of HERO Limited Edition Numbered Letterpress Cards and your choice of a DVD, Blu-ray, or digital version of the film plus the postcard and a social media shout-out.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Ships anywhere in the world

You selected

Pledge $250 or more

12 backers

Host a public screening in your apartment or home. Designed for up to 15 people, this package will give you your choice of film format (Digital, DVD or Blu-ray), 10 - 11x17 posters, 30 postcards, a personally addressed and signed copy of the official 24x36 Of By For movie poster, your name and picture on the OBF Tour map, and a personal social media thank you.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Only ships to: United States

You selected

Pledge $1,000 or more

5 backers

Host a public screening in your town. Designed for up to 50 people, this package will give you a pre-screening conference call with Director Christopher Kay and Producer Chad Monnin, your choice of film format (Digital, DVD or Blu-ray), 50 - 11x17 posters, 100 postcards, a personally addressed and signed copy of the official 24x36 Of By For movie poster, your name, picture and quote (optional) on the OBF Tour map, and a personal social media thank you.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Only ships to: United States

You selected

Pledge $5,000 or more

2 backers
Limited (18 left of 20)

Director Christopher Kay and some of the crew will come to your town (Continental US only), have dinner before hand, screen the film and host a Q&A after the film. We love ranches, pubs, town halls, churches...Wherever you want, we'll be there. Just find the space and bring the audience and we'll do the rest. Also enjoy dinner with the crew before the screening. You'll also get a pre-screening conference call with Director Christopher Kay and Producer Chad Monnin, copy of the film, 200 - 11x17 posters, 400 postcards, a personally addressed and signed copy of the official 24x36 Of By For movie poster, your name, picture and quote (optional) on the OBF Tour map, a personal social media thank you.

Estimated delivery:Nov 2013

Only ships to: United States

Funding period

Oct 10, 2013 - Nov 9, 2013
(30 days)

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